Kniphofia plant named ‘KNI609’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kniphofia  plant named ‘KNI609’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; repeat flowering over a long period of time; and pale yellow-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Kniphofia uvaria.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KNI609’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kniphofia plant, botanically known as Kniphofia uvaria and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KNI609’.

The new Kniphofia originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in 1996 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Kniphofia uvaria, not patented. The new Kniphofia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in November, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kniphofia plant by vegetative divisions in a controlled environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia since December, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Kniphofia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kniphofia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KNI609’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KNI609’ as a new and distinct Kniphofia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Repeat flowering over a long period of time.     -   5. Pale yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kniphofia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia are shorter than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have lighter yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kniphofia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color.     -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia repeat flower whereas plants of         the male parent selection do not repeat flower.     -   3. Plants of the new Kniphofia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kniphofia can also be compared to plants of Kniphofia uvaria ‘Little Maid’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Kniphofia differed from plants of ‘Little Maid’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kniphofia flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Little Maid’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kniphofia and ‘Little Maid’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Little Maid’ had lighter         yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kniphofia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kniphofia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KNI609’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘KNI609’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in containers during the winter in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practices which approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 27° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,200 to 5,000 foot-candles. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kniphofia uvaria ‘KNI609’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Kniphofia uvaria, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Kniphofia uvaria, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative divisions.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright plant             habit; basal rosette of leaves; flowering stems developing             from the center of the basal rosette of leaves; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of leaves.—About 32 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About 55             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 39 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple; sessile; grass-like.         -   Length.—About 30.5 cm.         -   Width.—At the base, about 6 mm; mid-section, about 4 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate; strongly keeled.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to N137A to N137B; venation, close to N137A             to N137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single funnelform flowers             arranged on upright terminal racemes; freely flowering habit             with about 96 flowers developing per inflorescence; flowers             face outward to slightly downward.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower repeatedly from spring to autumn in southern             California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to             seven days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 19.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Flower length.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm.             Shape: Columnar. Color: Close to N144A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Six segments fused into a narrow tube;             apices free. Length: Total, about 2 cm; free apices, about             4 mm. Width: Total, about 3.5 mm; free apices, about 2 mm.             Lobe shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144A to 144C.             Fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 4A to 4B;             color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—None observed.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 55 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Horizontal to bending downward             with development. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About six per             flower. Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.3 cm. Style color: Close to             145C. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 146A             Ovary color: Close to 146D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Kniphofia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Kniphofia have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain, high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA     Hardiness Zone 7. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kniphofia have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Kniphofia. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kniphofia plant named ‘KNI609’ as illustrated and described. 